The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-03-09

published. 1t only lnterentlally per-
mits giving reduced rates to ministers
of religion, but clearly forbids reduced
rates or free transportation to any
other class, in which would be included
the following: Theatrical companies,
baseball players, bicyclists, theatrical
advance agents, students, laborers, lum-
bermen, Indians, United States officers
and soldiers or their families, inmates
of national homes of disabled volunteer
soldiers, city police, members of the
press Gas courtesy, hotel employees,
freight shippers, charity cases, dumb
or blind people, temperance work
ers, etc.
In addition to this report, the Cen
trail Traffic Association added questions
of general policy as to whether it would
not be the most opportune time to stop
all payments of commissions, stop deal
ing with scalpers and make united
effort to drive them out of business,
abolish mileage tickets, which they say
are I" the next great drain on passenger
revenues to commissions and scalp
ers," and finally ego carefully over the
whole ground and take this opportunity
to cut off every special rate and special
arrangement of any kind or character
which experience has shown has had a
tendency to demoralize business, and
thus reduce the legitimate revenue of
the various lines" 1t is not probable
that all of these suggestions will be
adopted. The transcontinental mana
gers, at a meeting in New York, de-
cided that two tariffs for freight and
passenger business should be prepared
one under the long-haul clause and the
other under the short-haul clause as
they are understood by the railroads.
These tariffs are to take effect April 8,
and are to be submitted to the inter-
state railroad commissioners within a
reasonable time after their appointment
is announced.
AT joint conference of the mana
gers of eastern and western lines in
New York, last week Friday, the
ground was taken that excursion rates
may be allowed where they are "non-
discriminative, but combinations of
rates are to be confined strictly to min
listers and the classes of people enumer-
ated in the law. Mileage tickets will
be withdrawn where found to be dis
criminative," but where issued they
will be open to the general public. Al
meeting of the general managers OF
the western passenger association, held
Friday, it was agreed that commissions
for the sales of tickets should be con.
tinued to regular ticket agents, but
should be cut off from brokers and al
irresponsible parties. There was di
vision upon the question of the issue OF
passes. especially within state limits
and each road will adopt its own policy
in the matter. 1t is probable that many
of the railroads will improve the oppor
tunity to abolish the free-pass system
except as to employees; and in the Ions
run this will be as well for all con
cerned. In regard to the effects of the
interstate law upon the railroads gen
orally, the opinion is expressed tina
the railroads will derive more ad
vantage from it than the public. Dun''
weekly review of trade holds that The
first result of the measure will be some
increase in transportation charges. We
note that, with the exception of tn,
Journal, the leading Boston papers ar,
not favorably impressed with the law
In reviewing the work of congress
the Advertiser says: "The passage o
the interstate commerce bill was al
act which was ill-conceived and i'll
expressed. 1t will inevitably rails
through rates on trunk lines, which i
positive injury to producers, shipper
and consumers. 1t will lower som
local rates probably, but this local gail
is more than offset by the general un
settling of traffic and loss of through
shipments. Existing injustice Nigh
well have been rectified by commits
sion of arbiters, but this extraordinar
bill created the injustice which it LEI
for the commission to rectify."